McNeil students perform with pros

Photo by Lenore Swanson - The Carnigie Hall Link In Concert with the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra Sunday featured 110 students, 41 orchestra members, 10 youth string players and 14 staff members all on stage together. The staff at McNeil learned to play the recorder along with their students.

The Kenai Peninsula Orchestra performed for Homer audiences on Sunday and gave a rare opportunity to the budding musical talents of McNeil Canyon Elementary School.
McNeil Canyon teacher Debbie Piper wrote a grant last year to bring the Weill Music Institute’s Carnigie Hall Education Program to Homer.
“Seven years ago, McNeil Canyon did a link-up concert with 35 individuals in the gym as part of the Artist in the School Program,” Piper said. “I thought, how can we build on that and make it even better? These link up curriculums are made up by musicians who know how to make it more exciting for kids.”
The Weill Artist in the Schools grant allowed Tammy Vollum-Matturro into the school, where she worked with kids in September and October. She is a conductor who taught music theory. All students learn to play recorders and the staff joined in as well.
KPO’s 50 professional and semi-professional musicians shared their stage with the young children.
During the performance, McNeil students’ art and graphics were projected onto a screen to show how they interpreted the music through art projects.

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